i was cruising with some friends one night on the freeway and we all started to get into high speeds and rpms and all of a sudden my car felt like i was hitting my revlimiter and i was only at 5000 rpms......the ecu threw 2 codes (dont remember code #'s dealership read them and cleared them)

the descriptions given were FAILED OIL PRESSURE SWITCH and /or FAILED OIL CONTROL VALVE....the car drives fine and has no problem whatsoever until i get over 5000 for more than a few seconds...and it basically is revlimiting at 5K.....but ecu has not thrown anymore codes.......i have searched online some and cannot dig anything up on the oil control valve and the dealership is no help....(no warranty high mileage)....any help would be appreciated

 

sounds like the mivec solinoid on the clyinder head, that would make the most sense, why its past 5000rpm i couldnt tell you. but its probably related to the presure sensor just past the oil control valve.

 

Test the switch and the valve. You don't want to mess around with oil feed issues. What's happening, though, is that the engine isn't getting the signal it's looking for to engage MIVEC, and that's why it rev limits at 5k. Same thing happens when some of us disconnect that switch to save a bit on gas mileage. I'm trying to find the specs on those two items. Chances are you just need to replace the oil pressure switch. Do you have an oil pressure gauge?

 

there are two sensors on the motor for oil pressure, one on the block at the back(rear) of the engine and one on the head beside the oil sender valve(outlet side) one has pressure any time the engine is running and the other will have pressure when the Mivec is engaged. can you still hear the mivec engage? If not, the sender is the likely culprit(possibly the ECU,) if you can then the pressure sensor or ECU is the problem.

 

i do not have an oil pressure gauge but i do have another oil pressure switch order through mitsu...(it was the cheaper of the 2 parts and decided to do process of elimination).....yes i can still hear and feel MIVEC around 4k

the oil pressure swith is located at the rear of the block correct?

 

where is the oil control(feeder valve) located? what does it look like? cant find any information on it

 

Driver's side of the head, big gold thing right next to the cam position sensor, just below the oil pressure sensor.

 

I mean can you hear the cam switch over. in a parking lot go real slow in first gear until you get to 3500 RPM's (maybe 4500 in the 06's, no one has proven this definitively) and you should hear a dramatic change in sound from the engine. you aren't listening for more noise, or feeling more power, you are listening for a clear change in tone. It will be obvious, but unless you are specifically listening for it you wouldn't notice, especially at WOT or higher speed. If you can here the change over your oil sender is working properly(at least that time) and if you do hear it continue to 5000 to see if the fuel cuts. I believe (as long as you are correct when you say it does engage) that your oil pressure sensor is malfunctioning. Or like I suggested before, something is wrong with the ECU (less likely, but still possible.)

if it doesn't engage at all then the sender is the first step. It is very simple to remove, one screw and a little twisting, but mitsu recommends replacing the o-rind every time


btw, around 4000 is where the power really picks up, that's what you are hearing and feeling. the only two possible switchover points (and like I said above only one is absolutely proven IIRC) at 3500 and 4500.

 

Just load the engine a bit in second, get low on the revs and start accelerating, maybe the pedal half way..... you should "feel" a little tug of torque at 4k rpms (it actually opens at 3.5 k, but u feel it at 4k rpms)

When all fails, just wiggle the conections for both sensors, sometiomes dirt and grime make your day. Get some Electronics Cleaner and go to town, remember to disconnect the battery though. ...it's unlikely to happen to RAs, as I have yet to see that problem in mine or our friends's....but it was the case in a Matrix Xrs that one of my friends once had

 

thanks guys....replacing pressure switch tomorrow and will see what happens....hopefully thats it

 

oil pressure switch did not fix the problem......
ECU gave a code # P1020 - Mivec Performance problem
probable causes - 1)failed oil pressure switch 2)failed oil control valve 3)open or short circuit condition

I tried tracing the oil control valve wires and the oil pressure switch wires but did not find anything that looked burnt or disconnected. So i guess the only other option is the oil control valve itself

 

well........i tested the oil control valve nd it is still funtioning......swapped valves w/ a friend of mine that has a RA and his ran perfect and still 5k revlimit for me......i also tested the oil control valve wire and it carries current...i guess the last option is the ECU??? any ideas or opinion?

 

Probe the pink wire with a black stripe coming off the oil control valve. It should be reading around 12v (I think) at idle, then that voltage should drop to near 0 over 3500 rpm.

 

the valve is functioning properly....just dont know what to look for next......im thinking that it is the ecu but not sure......if it is i wonder if the 07 eclipse with the 2.4 L motor has the same ECU.....there is a totaled one down the street

 

probably ecu, have the dealer diagnose it. the mut tools offer much more diagnostics than you will ever come up with for the ecu.